A South Hams family on the verge of homelessness have moved into their dream home in time for Christmas.
Gemma and David Marshall and their two children – Jacob, 10, and Phoebe, 7 – have twice been forced to move by private landlords after the homes they were living in were put up for sale.
With rental prices spiralling, the family found themselves unable to secure a new home and were forced to move in with Gemma’s parents.
Fearing they would have to leave Kingsbridge – the town in which Gemma went to school, having grown up in Salcombe – the couple contemplated the daunting prospect of leaving the area and finding new schools for their children.
But Gemma’s persistence paid dividends when she bid for one of our affordable rental homes on a new development in the town called Applegate Park.
A partnership between LiveWest and local independent house builder Devonshire Homes has paved the way for 94 new homes, including outright sale, shared ownership and affordable rent.
Gemma, who works in the pastoral support team at a local school, was able to secure one of the affordable rental homes and couldn’t be happier.
Gemma, 38, said: “We have been privately renting since we both left university and in the last four years have been forced to move twice after the landlords served us section 21 notices.
“The last one came just before Christmas last year and we weren’t able to find anywhere that was affordable. The competition was intense, and the rents being charged were incredibly high.
“It was a really difficult time for us not having anywhere to live and the only accommodation we were being offered was a hotel room in Plymouth.
“So the only option we had was to move in with my parents and we used that time to bid on countless homes on the Devon Homechoice register in the hope we could find somewhere suitable.
“Then came the best news we could have ever imagined. We were accepted for one of LiveWest’s affordable rental homes on a new development in Kingsbridge. It was beyond our wildest dreams.”
Gemma and her family moved into their new home a week ago so they can enjoy Christmas together in their own surroundings.
The three-bedroom home means Jacob and Phoebe have their own bedrooms and will be able to remain at their current schools and the family have a new community to flourish in.
Gemma added: “We moved in last week and I still can’t believe it. I am still pinching myself.
“It really does feel like the dawn of a new era for our family.
“We have now got a stable home and don’t have to live in fear of being asked to leave.
“The children absolutely love having their own bedrooms as they have been sharing rooms for the past year.
“The home is amazing. The finish is really good, they are really warm and the insulation is fantastic. The high-end finish really caps it off and we have got lovely views across open countryside.
“Devonshire Homes and LiveWest have done a terrific job completing these homes in time for Christmas so families can enjoy their time together.
“There is already a nice community feel about it here and a Facebook group has been set up so people can get to know each other. Everyone is so friendly.”
With average property prices around 12 times the average salaries across the South West, Gemma believes more affordable homes like hers should be built to meet the growing demand across the region.
She added: “I grew up in Salcombe, but I gave up hope of ever being able to afford a home there a long time ago.
“A lot of people in this area work in shops and businesses associated with tourism and so the wages aren’t enough to access the housing market.
“Housing associations play a vital role in helping to bridge that gap and I would love to see more social and affordable rental homes built around here to keep the community together and give families an opportunity to get a home they can afford.”
James Reseigh, Director of Neighbourhoods for LiveWest, said: “As an organisation with a real focus on providing much-needed affordable homes, it has been fantastic to hear Gemma’s story.
“We are thrilled that Gemma and her family have been able to move in before Christmas where they can enjoy the festivities under their own roof.
“Applegate Park in Kinsgbridge is a perfect example of where we have been able to partner with Devonshire Homes to rent homes at below market levels and help families get access to safe, good quality, affordable homes in a location they love to live in. We wish the family all the very best for the future.”
Jane Pearce, Sales and Marketing Director at Devonshire Homes, commented: “We’re delighted to hear that Gemma and her family have moved into a new build home at Applegate Park just in time for Christmas.
“We understand how hard it can be to find a suitable property due to the demand there is for property, but we’re pleased to partner with LiveWest at our Kingsbridge site to bring high-quality, affordable homes to local people.
“We wish Gemma and her family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in their new home at Applegate Park!”